CXI propositions concerning the ministry and government of the ChurchCXI propositions concerning the ministerie and government of the Church

And seeing this power is given of the Lord, not to destruction but to edification; Therefore this same scope is propounded in Excommunication, (which is the greatest and last of Ecclesiastical censures) namely, that the soul of an offending brother may be gained to Christ, and that being stricken with fear, and the stubborn sinner filled with shame, may by the grace of God be humbled, and may (as a brand plucked out of the fire) be snatched out of the snare of the devil, and may repent unto salvation; at least the rest may turn away from those which are branded with such a censure, lest the soul infection do creep and spread further.

And seeing this power is given of the Lord, not to destruction but to edification; Therefore this same scope is propounded in Excommunication, (which is the greatest and last of Ecclesiasticall censures) namely, that the soul of an offending brother may be gained to Christ, and that being stricken with fear, and the stubborne sinner filled with shame, may by the grace of God be humbled, and may (as a brand plucked out of the fire) bee snatched out of the snare of the devill, and may repent unto salvation; at least the rest may turne away from those which are branded with such a censure, lest the soul infection do creep and spread further.